The “Abject” Lesbian Fatale in As intimidades de Analu e Fernanda

Abstract

The lesbian fatale became prominent in neo-noir films, particularly in the 1990s. She is often related to violence and aggression, and her sexual and gender identities disrupt patriarchal power; consequently, she is seen as an “other.” In other words, her acts challenge hegemonic binary constructions as they cross the boundaries patriarchy established. By doing so, the lesbian fatale represents social pollution and abjection. Thus, as happened to various femmes fatales in film noir, patriarchal society’s main aim is to get rid of her so that the threat she represents is cordoned off and hegemonic gender and sexual relations are reestablished. However, through its very attempt to control the lesbian fatale, patriarchal society exposes its weakness as it fails to contain her and does not manage to “convert” her back to heterosexuality. The only way to dominate her is primarily by having her eliminated for good (i.e., being killed), but death, however, indicates her (and the other femmes fatales’) power rather than her weakness, as already proposed in this study. This is evident in José Miziara’s drama/thriller¹ As intimidades de Analu e Fernanda.